MASTERS GOLD FOR EDEL & SILVER FOR IAN
MASTERS GOLD FOR EDEL
Just after the start
Lothian Running Club can now boast having a Scottish champion in their ranks. This follows Edel Mooney’s storming victory in the National Masters Cross Country Championship at Forres on Saturday.
Conditions in the Highland town’s Grant Park were ideal for the races, the Women’s 4 mile race consisted of two small, mostly flat loops followed by a longer loop of challenging undulating terrain.
In the early stages of the race, Edel was content to tuck-in behind pacesetters Angela Mudge, [Carnethy Hill Runners] and Jennifer McLean[Edinburgh AC]. This trio gradually put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack, as the leaders approached the onset of the big loop and the first major hill test, Edel made a decisive move.
It was a move her rivals couldn’t respond to, and over the final mile, the Irish internationalist strode clear to cross the finish line 22 minutes 21 seconds, some 21 seconds ahead of McLean [22m 41s] who won the battle for second place by 5 seconds from Mudge [22m 46s].
Commenting after the race on her gold medal winning performance Edel said, ” I had a cold the whole week, so i wasn’t sure how my form was, i just went there and thought i might as well give it my best”.
”Angela took the pace out fast at the beginning followed by Jennifer and myself, i took the lead with about a mile to run, to be honest i expected a challenge, but none came, so i just continued the run and finished about 120 metres ahead at the end”.
In all half a dozen runners from the club made the long haul North and Edel wasn’t the only member to return with a medal.
Running in the Men’s Over-65 Race, Ian Leggett finished 13th overall and 2nd in the M70 category which secured a silver medal for one of the club’s oldest members. Ian completed the course in 31 minutes 38 seconds.
The club fielded a fulll team of four in the Men’s 35-64 years race. First home in 23rd place was Colin Partridge who covered the 5 mile course in 30 minutes 17 seconds. Following him home were 54th Graeme Ackland [32m 38s], 96th Stephen Malcolm [36m 21s] and Kenny Mearns [40m 31s] This placed the club 13th in the team competion.
The three medal winners L to R Edel, Angela Mudge & Jennifer McLean
Edel heads for victory
